ICAR JRF Soil Science Exam Pattern & Syllabus 2025 | AgriInsights

UNIT-I:

Importance of Agriculture from a national perspective; basic principles of crop production, diversification, diversification of Agriculture, the principle of nutrient and water management, package of practices for rice, wheat sorghum, maize, chickpea, pigeon pea, potato, sugarcane, groundnut, major vegetable crops.Role of essential plant nutrients, deficiency symptoms, and management options. Structure and function of plant cells, cell division, Basic concept of plant physiology relating to crop production Biochemical compounds viz, carbohydrates, proteins, enzymes, fats, liquid vitamins, and their function, developmental programmes relating to rural upliftment and livelihood security; organizational set up of agricultural education research and extension and future strategies for upgradation.

UNIT-II:

Volumetric and gravimetric analysis including complex metric methods, periodic classification of the element, Basic principle of instrumental analysis including spectro-photometry (Absorption and emission spectrography), Atomic structure –the elementary concept of radioactivity, element, and compound common ion effect, solubility product—hydrolysis of salts, buffer solution indicates equivalent weights and standard solution. Elementary concepts of organic compounds- nomenclature and classifications including hydrocarbons, alcohol, aldehydes, acids and esters, carbohydrates, fats and liquids, amino acids, and nucleic acids. Pesticides, their classification and uses; biopesticides and botanical pesticides.

UNIT-III:

Soil as a medium for plant growth, the composition of earth’s crust, weathering of rocks and minerals, components of soil- their importance, soil profile, soil partials- physical mineralogical and chemical nature.Mechanical analysis, Stokes law, assumptions, limitations, and applications. Soil, physical properties density, porosity, texture, soil structure, and their brief descriptions. Rheological properties in soils, calculations of porosity, and bulk density. Soil air-aeration, causes of poor aeration, factors affecting aeration, and the importance of plant growth. Soil temperature – sources and losses of soil heat. Factors affecting soil temperature, and its importance in plant growth. Soil water- structure of water, soil-water-energy relationship, classifications, surface tension, and movement in the soil. Soil colloids- properties, structure of silicate clay minerals, sources of negative charges, properties, kaolinite, illite, montmorillonite and vermiculite clay minerals, milli-equivalent concept, cation exchange capacity, anion exchange capacity, buffering of soils. Problem soils- acid, saline, sodic, and acid sulfate soils – their characteristics, formation, problems, and management. Irrigation, water quality, and its evaluation. Waterlogged soils- basic features, the distinction with upland soils.

UNIT-IV: